January 19, 2012

Getting the job: Survey finds 94 percent of recent College of Business Administration grads are employed or furthering their education

Getting down to business is what most recent bachelor's graduates of Kansas State University's College of Business Administration say they are doing.

According to a survey by the university's career and employment services, close to all of the College of Business Administration graduates -- 94 percent -- from the 2010-2011 academic year are gainfully employed or seeking further education.

Of the students who completed the survey, 78 percent said that they are employed, and 16 percent are furthering their education.

"This placement rate is terrific, and it shows that our approach to teaching business to our students is working for them and for the companies that heavily recruit from our college," said Ali Malekzadeh, Edgerley Family Dean of the College of Business Administration. "We are encouraged that even in a slow economy, our graduates are able to gain meaningful employment or pursue graduate education at very high rates."

Students from the college have gone to work for large corporations such as Cerner Corp., Koch Industries Inc., Target Corp. and Cargill Inc., as well as well-regarded accounting firms, including Deloitte, and government agencies. Others have joined alumni-owned companies, including Denver, Colo.-based Agility Solutions LLC and Manhattan-based GTM Sportswear. Yet others have formed their own companies and become self-employed.

The salary ranges are encouraging, with the average salary for the college’s spring 2011 graduates ranges from $37,144 for marketing majors to $46,083 for management information systems majors. Their occupations include financial services representatives, product specialists, management trainees and assistant merchandisers.

"We are very proud of our graduates, and we are glad that their education is helping them become successful professionals,” Malekzadeh said. “We wish them continued success."

Only 5 percent, or 24 graduates, are seeking employment; four graduates, or 1 percent, are occupied in other, non-career, activities. Eighty-four percent of the college's 543 graduates in the 2010-2011 school year participated in the career and employment services' survey.